Expansible locking-clasp for books, &amp;c.



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PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

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J. G. GIPPORD. EXPANSIBLE LOOKING CLASP FOR BOOKS, &o.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904.

PATENTED JAN. l0, 1905.

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y J. G. GIPFORD. EXPANSIBLB LooKING CLASP PoR BOOKS, 6m.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904.

f W O l b 5| l YUM e al n /1 E I y2 7 m/mon-` v jn @jb/YZ fw dm `l i |I l I Wwsses I L 'af/y N. 779,922. Patented January 10, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GUTHRIE GIFFORD, OFWESI BROMWIOH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO KENRIOK & JEFFERSON, LIMITED, OF I/VEST BROMWIOH, ENGLAND.

EXPANSIBLE LOCKING-CLASP FOR BOOKS, &o.

SPECIFICATION forming par-trof Letters Patent No. 779,922, dated January 10, 1905.

' Application led Ju-ne 1l, 1904. Serial No. 212,194.

T @u wwm "UY/y COW/067%! -elevation the locking-plate of the expansible 50 Beit known thatLJoHN GUTHRIE'GIFFORD, locking-clasp detached from the lock. Fig. 8 a subject of the King of Great Britain, residis a transverse vertical section through the ing atEatonOottage, High street,West Bromplate shown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section wich, England, have invented certain new and similar to that shownby Fig. l, illustrating' useful Improvements in Expansible Lockingthe use of a single rack-bar. Fig. isa view 55 Olasps for Books and other Like Articles, of similar to Fig. l, showing the use of more than which the following is a specification. two rack-bars. A

The said invention consists of the improve- The same letters of reference indicate the IO ments herein-after described in expansible saine parts in the several figures of the drawlocking-clasps for books and other like artiings. 60 cles-such, for example, as the leaf-binders a b are the fixing-plates of the clasp, which commonly called loose-leaf books, paperare fixed by riveting to the edges of the cover files, binders, andboxes-the said improvec c of the book, as is represented in Fig. 3.

vI5 ments having for their objects to permit the To the fixing-plate a is hinged by the hingelocking-clasp to accommodate itself automatpin CZ a lever-lock c, the essential feature of 65 ically to the varying thickness of the book or which lock consists of a locking plate c2, the like to which it is applied and to provide (shown detached in Fig. 7 carrying two profor the automatic locking of the said book or jections e3 e3 in line, the acting parts of which 2O the like, the unlocking being effected by the have a Shape somewhat resembling the letter aid of a key. V. The locking-plate c2 is capable of being 70 In constructing an expansiblelocking-clasp raised to a limited extent, as is represented according to my inventionI hinge to the plate, in Fig. 4, by the key of the lock against the which is fixed on one edge or cover of the book action of the spring f, by which the lockingor the like, a lock, the outer edge or end of plate is normally preserved in its locking powhich has an opening or openings for the resition. To the other iixing-plate, I), a'series 75 ception of a racked bar or a series of racked of bars g g2 g2 are hinged by the hinge-pin t, bars hinged to the plate secured to the other the said bars having, preferably, a front slotedge or cover of the book and provided with ted coveringplate c'. (Indicated in dotted lock mechanism of such a kind that when the lines in Fig. 6.) rlhe bars g2 g2 are racked,

racked bar or bars are passed into'and pushed as is best seen in Fig. 6, the teeth being' of 8O partially or fully home in the opening in the such a shape that the bars can be readily outer edge or end of the lock proper' the said forced into openings in the outer edge of the racked bar or bars are fastened and the clasp lock c, the racked bars g2 g2 working under thereby automatically locked. The unfastenthe projections @Saigon the locking-plate c2, by

ing of the lock is effected by a key. which projections the bars are retained in the 85 Figurelof the accompanying drawings repposition to which they have been advanced resents in vertical section an expansible lockinto the lock. The clasp can only be opened ing-clasp for books and other like articles conby the aid of a key, which eects the raising 40 structed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is of the locking-plate e2 into the position repreavertical section taken on the dotted line m w, sented in Fig. 4, and thereby disengages the 90 Fig. l. Fig. Bisahorizontal section takenon projections @3 e3 from the racked bars g2 g2. the dotted line y y, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a similar l When the lock is unfastened, as is represented view to Fig. l with the lock mechanism unin Fig. 4, the racked bars are free and can be fastened to permitthe clasp to be opened. Fig. withdrawn from the lock to permit of the 5 represents the clasp fastened in an expanded opening of the book. 95 state. Figrepresents in elevationtheracked I wish it to be understood that the lever bars, which are hinged to one of the fixingmechanism of the lock constitutes no part of plates of the clasp; and Fig. 7 respresents in my invention and may be varied without affecting the essential feature of the invention, and although I have represented two of the bars hinged to the fixing-plate of the clasp with rack-teeth I wish it to be understood that one rack-bar only or more than two rack-bars may be employed, as clearly shown by Figs. 9 and 10. v

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-w 1. A self-locking and self-adjusting expansible clasp for books and other like articles consisting of a supporting' member movably connected to one of the fixing-plates of the clasp and carrying a lock operative by a key, and a hasp member movably connected to the other fixing-plate of the clasp, said hasp member having' an endwise movement in the lock-case and adapted to be retained in any locked position therein into which it may be pressed by closing the book.

2. A self-locking and self-adjusting expansible clasp for books and other like articles, con# sisting of a plate carrying a lock and hinged to one of the fixing-plates of the clasp, and a hasp-plate hinged to the other fixing-plate of the clasp and having one or more bars with rack-teeth which are engaged by portions of the first-named plate, the hasp-plate being capable of an endwise motion in the lock-case, and of being retained in any position therein into which it may be pressed on the closing of the book or like device.

3. Aself-lockingand self-adjusting expansible clasp for books and other articles, consisting of a lock hinged to one of the fixing-plates of the clasp, one or more rack-bars hinged to the other fixing-plate of the clasp, and mechanism in connection with the latter for retaining the rack bar or bars in any position which they may be disposed in the lock, the latter mechanism being controlled by a key.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GUTHRIE GIFFORD.

Vitnesses:

RICHARD SKERRETT, ARTHUR J. POWELL. 

